Allergic reactions
to fresh fruits and
nuts have become
increasingly common.
Mango (Mangifera
indica) is a popular
fruit eaten all over
the world. We report
the case of a 43-year-old
woman who
experienced
oropharyngeal
itching, swelling of
the face and other
parts of the body,
and diffi culty
breathing within a
few minutes of
eating ripe mango
fruit. The woman had
no history of pollen
or latex allergy.
However, she
reported instances
of milder food
allergic reactions
to Indian dill and
cashew apple. Skin
prick tests using
mango fruit pulp,
Indian dill, and
cashew apple
extracts were
positive. Prick
tests with a panel
of common grass and
weed pollen extracts
were negative.
Enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay
for mango-specific
serum immunoglobulin
(Ig) E was positive.
A specific protein
allergen in mango
could not be
detected by
immunoblotting.
Based on the
strongly positive
clinical history and
results of allergy
testing, it was
concluded that the
woman had IgE-mediated
anaphylactic
reactions to mango
fruit.